The Texas Rangers and the Mexican Revolution: The Bloodiest Decade, 1910-1920

There has much been written on this period for and against the Rangers in this part of Texas. The truth is somewhere in between.J. Frank Dobie: Southwest Writers Series No. 1Guide to Life and Literature of the SouthwestThe Texas Rangers The Rangers were the inheritors of the traditions of the Frontier Batallion formed in the early nineteenth century to fight the Comanches who raided from Wyoming to northern Mexico on the prairies. By 1900 the organization had dwindled to a small number of full time men supplemented by those holding special commissions both honorary and others such as brand inspectors paid by the cattlemens' association. Blood on the Border: The United States Army and the Mexican Irregulars In any case they had to furnish their own mounts, and even badges. The whole organization was riddled with politics. Rangers served at the pleasure of the governor under the Adjutant General, who also oversaw the organized militia (later National Guard) Though termed companies, they seldom were larger than a modrn day infantry squad; there were usually Ranger captains and once in a while a sergeant, but the rest were privates. Som rangers were good leaders but because of the constant turmoil in the ranks, back and forth between private business, the Customs Mounted Inspectors, and local law enforcement, there were some brutes in the ranks who resortd to the ley de fugo, and killed both innocent and guilty alike. The Carranzistas controlled the Mexican side, and cynically fired on Army patrols on the US side. Carranza cut off the 1915 rebels in trade for recognition by the US and the race war ended. Revolution in Texas: How a Forgotten Rebellion and Its Bloody Suppression Turned Mexicans into Americans (The Lamar Series in Western History) But then came prohibition, (gun runners had always been a problem)rum running (tequila actually) and chasing draft dodgers and deserters. The authors made little use of the vast secondary literature, instead tey spent years mining the microfilm at the National Archives. Though the State Department files have long been open and the emajor portion filmed, the records of the Bureau of Investigation (later FBI) wer onl declassiied in the 1970s.

The Mexican Revolution was at its most bloody point during this decade and spilled over to the United States on some occasions. This book analyzes the role of the Texas Rangers, Untied States Military and other groups during the time of the revolution. Mostly it is a policing action to keep violence from spilling over into El Paso but occasionally they are attacking cattle rustlers who cross the border including Pancho Villa. The Texas Rangers were essential in defending the frontier during this timer period and performed many valuable services. While there are several books that exist on the Texas Rangers this is the only one that I have run across that really explains their role within Texas as a whole. Both authors do an excellent job of bringing their knowledge about the revolution and weaving it within the context of Texas History. Their discussion of the Plan de San Diego which was an attempted revolt by Mexicans across the border was truly terrifying and they do an excellent job of giving the governments response to it. This book is excellent for anyone who wants a knowledge about how state forces responded to a crisis during the early 1900's. For those who love the Texas Rangers this is a must have to their library.

During the decade of 1910-20, tensions between Mexico and the United States over incidents relating to Pancho Villa's threat to Mexico's president Venustiano Carranza and U. S. incursions into Mexico led by General John Pershing had become so tense that the "situation was not dissimilar to that of Jewish settlers in the West Bank"; with the small number of white Texans along the border being compared to the Jewish settlers surrounded by a much greater number of resentful Palestinians. In this situation, the Texas governors of this decade--Colquitt, Ferguson, and Hobby--used the Texas Rangers to protect Texas citizens and combat the tactics of Mexicans directed by Carranza and in some cases acting as vigilantes. The unique and in ways controversial activities of the Texas Rangers in this complex, volatile, and fluid situation is the subject the authors hone in on. Harris and Sadler, both former professors at New Mexico State U., bring to light little-known dimensions of the historical events, which continue to affect relationships and feelings between the white Texans and Hispanics in the area. There was much lawlessness on both sides. Mexican Army troops dressed as civilians crossed the border to raid Texas communities. After Texas Rangers executed two Mexican agitators after taking them by force from the F.B.I., the U. S. Attorney General issued an order that all prisoners henceforth be held by the U. S. Army. The situation was especially complicated not only because of points of opposition between Texas and the U. S. Federal Government, but also because of Mexican president Carranza's desire for recognition by the U. S. while trying at the same time to stand up to it. While concentrating on the unique role of the Rangers in this complex historical situation, Harris and Sadler also construct the context in which their activities took place.